The Natural Sun
Announcements about our sun and its natural conditions
- Chapter 51 -
Domestic, State and Religious conditions upon the sixth pair of equatorial belts
You will say to yourselves: where there are immense houses, immensely complex codes must also be in place to keep proper order. But here that is not the case, as with all its architectural grandeur, the domestic rules are as simple as can be. And with the domestic constitution the national constitution is as good as merged into it.
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The one vital thing about the domestic code is that each family must keep its dwelling in perpetual order and cleanliness and where undue damage has accrued to the huge dwelling, which actually is quite rare, then all parties and residents must get together to put it back into good repair.
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A further rule is that ground use is to be in inverse proximity to height, with the first or border-building storey using the most remote ground and the top one the ground in the vicinity.
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Another domestic rule is that houses up to six storey buildings are to have no water plumbing since it is easy for them to bring in an alternative supply. From the sixth storey of the building upward, all must have water plumbing. There must likewise be no plant growing upon upper terraces up to the fifth level. Levels above that can establish gardens for growing edible plants and roots.
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The younger residents also are called upon to occupy the higher storeys of a building. The tribal elders however always live in the innermost building which is also the highest and most magnificent.
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Also the elders are to use the innermost large garden, occupying the highest building so that they can oversee the others from its high terrace. Even if they don't always do so in person, they nevertheless always keep a few guards upon the highest terrace, who take turns to oversee the entire dwelling, notifying the patriarch at once of any seeming neglect. This could include undue smoke or even a dust cloud. It is every resident's obligation nonetheless to report any untoward incident to the patriarch.
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Another state and domestic code consists of all male children to be brought to the temple for education, whilst the female child is educated as a domestic at home.
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On returning home from the temple schools, all boys must pass tests in all the skills acquired before the patriarchs. If found competent they can marry and move into a dwelling for themselves, of which many are kept in reserve for the purpose, in this huge building.
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These would be the main domestic and state regulations kept by those in one or the other houses. That leaves only some neighbourly relations ceding the privilege to a house occupant to request unrefusable assistance in exceptional circumstances. Should the erection of a new house be contemplated somewhere, this must never be done without the blessing of the temple committee and of the most senor priest. So much for outer, official relationships.
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That all general domestic affairs are subject to temple guidance shall become clear in the material part of religion later.
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As we have finished with the first two codes we can now rum to the religion of these equatorial people. To do so, with this most important branch in the most effective and briefest manner however, we shall subdivide religion into the material and spiritual aspects.
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Hence we are going to ask the first question: "What does the material or better still practical part of religion consist of?" In nothing other than every person doing everything to honour God and hence to check whether his actions suitably honour God. If his actions or the intention to act cannot be deemed fully worthy of God, then it is a person's responsibility to notify the house patriarch and let him check whether it is appropriate for honouring God. If it is found questionable, then he has to unhesitatingly bring it before the high priesthood of the temple. If the latter has recognised the intended action as worthy of honouring God, then the initiator can put it to work without further ado. If found unworthy of honouring God however, then the initiator firstly has to abstain from it and secondly pay penitence for his unworthy intention. This takes the form of some subordinate service in the temple, after which he can return to his country of origin.
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Therewith, a code pertaining to the practical part of religion. Another rule consists that all residents of a house are to, once in the course of either seven or every ten starlight periods, assemble at the temple to worship God in order to hear the divine doctrines out of the high priest's mouth in the various temple chambers.
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Thus it is also everyman's duty, once in their lifetime, to climb the temple's highest pinnacle, to there, thank God for everything yet to come.
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Every resident also has a duty, in the course of ten starlight periods, normally lasting just over twenty-nine days, to bring a certain part of their three tree-fruits to the temple as an offering.
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And furthermore, since the main highway is the property of the temples, which are built mainly near the highway, every resident must at all times be ready, if required, to contribute with all his resources to the upkeep of the highway.
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Someone is sure to ask: "For what purpose is this road built?" Firstly, to maintain, with the help of this highway, communication with all this equator's residents and therewith all temples, to the honour of God. A second purpose for this road is that, especially those males who want to become high priests, obtain certification from all temples that they have, to the honour of God, travelled the entire length of this highway, close to two hundred thousand miles (GM: = approximately 140,000km), making the acquaintance of all the temples. Therewith the second reason for this road. The third purpose is that anyone wishing to acquire much knowledge and many skills, can do so in the most expedient manner.
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For here too there is a type of wagon, with which one can travel with speed over even roads; but these are not hauled by animals and even less by humans, but driven by a machine,which, when at top speed, no cannon ball would catch.
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Who maintains these? Firstly the temple-construction administration; secondly, we have heard that there are small dwellings along the road, whose occupants maintain the highway. Each occupant of these roadhouses has to be constantly provided with a substantial number of these machines, which are always held ready for transportation of travellers to the next station. This is part of the temple-initiated, practical religion. We shall continue next time.